The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1887-12-20


morning until six in the evening In
the summer have every other Sunday
of. but in the fall and winter must
work every Sunday"
You do not have much time for rec
reatione"
mo; that's the hardest thing about
the work. When / see every one else
going ont Sunday TO have a good time
and i have 10 work. it breaks my
heart" The words were followed by
CHEEKY laugh that little indicated a
damaged anatomy.
Do not imagine all this conversation
was carried on uninterruptedly. All
the time Aunie was CHANGING up and
down the track. keeping = sharp look
Out for trains. while her nimble fingers
piled the kuitting-needles on what was
to be q warm mitten for winter wear
Suddenly, IA the midst Of sentence,
she would start up, seize = pair Of
gauntlet gloves lying on the window
ledge. and step out to throw switch or
signsi that III was clear There was
nothing Of rush about her movements;
while quick, they were collected and
showed cool, well-balanced head.
| referred to this once when she
came i'm, and asked II she never be-
came excited or nervous when several
trains requiring TO be switched on diff
ferent tracks were arriving in quick
succession.
20 no; fifty trains would not make
me nervous" was the calm reply. Il
have cool head. When many trains
are coming. / tend to the main line
and transfer switches and let the others
wait, or leave them for the switchmen
10 look after
"Of how many switches have YOU
CHARGE
Eleven now. For = time before
father was killed We had fifteen. They
are the most important switches in the
yard. 1t was much harder work for
he then than now. Father was So
easy 10 get excited. and then he would
forget. had to watch him and do my
own work besides Now / have only
myself 10 look after"
do YOU not often get tired of the
wcrk?n
We'll, I'm not dead stuck on il, and
would take another job too quick if j
could get it, Annie occasionally
drops into slang. But have been
brought up To the work, and there's
nothing else | could do where l could
earn as much. Sometimes ladies' talk
to me and some say they would not dc
il for any thing, and others again
praise me. | don't know which are
right All know is that am used
To the switches and don't mind. except
at times"
The tone Of voice was cheerful, al
though quiet, and the words came as
the conviction arrived at after a careful
weighing of all the advantages and
disadvantages.
DO you not suffer from cold in the
winter?'
30, YES. sometimes. The wind has
such q sweep here; but l dodge in
and out of the shanty, if il is only for a
minute. 10 warm my fingers. The cold
l don't mind 80 much "a the heat
These tracks draw the sun so. 1t is
very hot here at times, and then | have
awful headaches"
You don't give up?"
Il can't; there's no one To take my
place, " was the quiet reply.
Does your sister practice telegraphy
now?"
mo; she was taken sick; then mother
was sick and needed some one TO help
her with the housekeeping"
Then you support the family"
Yes" with a LITTLE laugh. The
next moment Annie was outside setting
switch right for freight train that
went laundering by As the caboose
passed. shout of Hello. Annie!'
brought an answering smile and wave
of the hand from the girl.
They all speak to her, and she has
pleasant word for every one" said
the uncle, and had occasion TO notice
the truth of the remark during the
course of my visit.
Were you not frightened when the
Polish rioters came through the yard
last year," ! asked "a Annie returned.
We'll. | wasn't frightened. but l
didn't feel exactly comfortable, was
the naive reply. Il was out in the
yard when | saw them coming. !
couldn't leave. rs there were the
switches to throw. One fellow called
out 10 me that l should quit work. |
told him TO mind his own business.
Then great big Pole attempted to put
his arms around me-. | cried: Get
away from me, YOU great nasty Polack!
and gave him such slap in the face
that he staggered of. The others